AUSTIN, Texas - There was no shortage of offensive firepower from either team on Sunday as the Texans and Nittany Lions combined for 19 runs on 24 hits as Tarleton State fell to Penn State for the second time during the Longhorn Invitational.
 
Things picked up right where they left off on Saturday in the rematch with Penn State on Sunday afternoon. Both contests combined lasted five hours and three minutes as both teams put up big numbers in multiple innings. Tarleton State put up three multi-run innings in Sunday's contest as Penn State had two of their own.
 
The Nittany Lions got things started in the bottom of the first as Haylie Brunson drove in Maddie Gordon with a double to center giving Penn State the early 1-0 lead.
 
Both teams went quietly in the second inning before the runs started pouring in.
 
The Texans got on the board with two runs in the top of the third marking the first of four lead changes of the game.
 
Kelci Hill doubled to center scoring Hayden Fox who reached on a single to left tying things up at one-all. Kayla Wallace then doubled to center as well scoring Kelci Hill.
 
Penn State went three up three down in the bottom of the third before Tarleton State tacked on more runs in the top half of the fourth.
 
Wallace once again drove in runs as she singled to right field this time scoring Kalyn Hill and Kiana Gibson making it 4-1 Texans. Gibson reached on a walk after an eight-pitch at-bat followed by Kalyn Hill who singled to center after she had a seven-pitch at-bat. Jordan Dickerson drove in the Purple and White's fifth run of the season with a single to left field scoring Ashlee LaRue moving the lead to 5-1.
 
Penn State didn't allow Tarleton State to hold the lead for long as they put up a five-spot in the bottom of the fourth. The Nittany Lions scored their five runs off a single to left, double to left center and a single to right center making it 6-5 Penn State.
 
The Texans took the lead back in the top of the fifth putting up their second three-spot of the game. Kelci Hill doubled down left field line scoring three Texans in LaRue, Fox and Bella Hernandez. Hernandez went in to pinch run for Kalyn Hill after she doubled to center. Fox reached base after she walked following a six-pitch at-bat. LaRue got on as she singled to second base. This marked the last time the Texans pushed any runs across as they eventually fell 11-8.
 
The Nittany Lions put up a five-spot once again in the bottom of the fifth inning giving them the lead back and that was what they needed to secure the win over the Texans. Penn State scored their five runs off a double to center, single to center and two singles to left.
 
Gibson had a lead-off walk to open the sixth inning, but the Texans were sat down in order following the walk ending the hopes of taking the lead back.
 
The Texans once again got a baserunner in the top of the seventh as Kelci Hill hit a lead-off single to second base. Wallace popped up to shortstop followed by Dickerson flying out to center field putting the Texans down to their final out. Schaefer struck out to end the game after an eight-pitch at-bat after she was intentionally walked the previous three times.
 
Tarleton State used three pitchers on the day with Alexa Rehmeier getting the start in the circle. She went 3.1 innings for the Texans giving up six runs on six hits and struck out two. Hannah Blincoe took over things in the bottom of the fourth and went 0.2 innings giving up two runs on one hit and walked two. Makenzie Dunbar pitched the final two innings and took the loss moving her to 2-2 on the season as she gave up three runs on five hits and walked two.
 
Penn State also used three pitchers over their seven innings of work. Paige Maynard earned the start in the circle for the Nittany Lions and went 3.0 innings. She was tagged with giving up two runs on four hits and walked one Texan. Lydia Spalding took over things for an inning in the fourth as she gave up three runs on three hits and walked three. Mady Volpe rounded things out for the Nittany Lions pitching the final 3.0 innings and earning her fifth win of the season as she stays undefeated at 5-0. She was responsible for giving up three runs on five hits, striking out three and walking four.
 
Tarleton State leads a trio of offensive categories in the WAC as Kelci Hill leads in runs scored (22) and hits (34). Katy Schaefer leads the conference in RBI with 21. Hannah Blincoe is tied for the most wins in the WAC with four on the season.
 
The Texans will be back in action next weekend as they will take a flight down to Jacksonville, Florida, to compete in the Jacksonville Spring Break Challenge. Tarleton State will play five games over three days vs. four different opponents in USC Upstate, Presbyterian, Marist and host Jacksonville. As of Sunday, only live stats will be available for the five matchups.